Slept-On But Dope Hip Hop Songs From The Week Of 10/7/2013

Vic Mensa – “Holy Holy” f. Ab-Soul & BJ The Chicago Kid

Vic Mensa’s “Holy Holy,” which features Ab-Soul and BJ The Chicago Kid, was a standout this week. It is a smooth selection, one that contemplates the end of the world and mortality. The entire song is a melodic journey worth enjoying. However, it is Ab-Soul’s scene stealing third verse that drives this one home. It deserves to speak for itself: “See these the type of records make me think about Alori / It kills me inside we can’t hear her side of the story / I kept my Metro PCS with all of our text messages / As evidence that I was thinking holy matrimony / Holy moly was I incorrect, chain smokin’ cigarettes / My tee is wrinkled but the irony is that I’m so depressed / Ain’t no gettin’ over this, I just lost my everything / Meanin’ that even me breathing now is inhumane / She live through me until I die, this what love sound like / I’m her baby boy, she my rib. I’m always by her side.” The verse, an extension from his “The Book of Soul” selection off 2012’s Control System, shines beautifully as one of the year’s most powerful to date. – Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites)

Tech N9ne – “Hiccup”

It’s very rare that I get to write about Tech N9ne as a “Slept-On” pick, but I’ll take it. On “Hiccup,” Tecca Nina delivers some hard bars over hard guitars in a way that only he can. This is clearly the direction he’s going in, evidenced by his foray into rock territory on the Therapy EP. It feels like Tech’s done it all, so why not this? Sure he’s not bringing his traditional degree of chopper rap, but there’s still some signature Tech woven throughout the cut. “Hiccup” travels through a few meanings of the word, from an actual hiccup to a glitch. That’s the great thing about an artist like Tech N9ne; even when he isn’t intentionally saying something, he’s saying something, and here he’s letting you know he’s one of the best and isn’t afraid to boast it. This track was an ideal opener for Therapy, only drumming up more anticipation for the project. Stay tuned. – Kathy Iandoli (@kath3000)

Memphis Bleek – “Pound Cake (Remix)”

Memphis Bleek rose to notoriety in the 1990s through his work with and as an artist under fellow one-time Marcy Houses resident Jay Z. Now the Brooklyn rapper returns by remixing Drake’s “Pound Cake,” which features Jay Z on the original version. On the remix, Bleek’s straightforward flow works well with the celestial beat from Boi-1da. With one lengthy verse, Bleek’s autobiographical and punchline-heavy rhymes showcase Bleek at his best. He’s got a clever rhyme that features strawberries and he also mentions stop-and-frisk and Wu-Tang Clan, among other pop culture references. By reworking one of his mentor’s most recent standout performances, Memphis Bleek makes good on Jay’s stamp of approval first shown in 1996 on Reasonable Doubt‘s “Coming Of Age.” – Soren Baker (@SorenBaker)